Dan Martin

Having left Cannondale for Etixx-Quick Step, Martin hopes to have more opportunities to be in contention at the business end of races and proved that to be the case with a good showing at Flèche Wallonne.

He led Valverde most of the way up the Mur de Huy before seeing the Spaniard waltz past him, but third place for Martin was a fine result.

Julian Alaphilippe

Julien Alaphilippe in the 2016 Fleche Walloinne

Martin’s teammate Julian Alaphilippe also pushed past him on the Mur de Huy to finish second (again) to Valverde on Wednesday and will be hoping to break his runner-up streak in the Ardennes on Sunday.

He came second in both Flèche and LBL last year – both to the same rider – and looks certain to become Valverde’s successor as King of the Ardennes.

Can he get a win so young, though? He certainly can. We’ve been wondering about his fitness after a long illness this winter, but his climb at Flèche showed there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

He’s been in decent form this season without ever really shining through. He won another Tour Down Under and then claimed a pair of top-10 finishes in tough stages at both the Volta a Catalunya and Tour of the Basque Country.

Eleventh at the Amstel Gold Race wasn’t exactly what we expected of him, but he’s the kind of guy who can spring from nowhere to claim a race win.

The Wildcards

Roman Kreuziger

Having won the Amstel Gold in 2013, Kreuziger has finished in the top five of LBL on the last two occasions and he’s been on solid form in the Ardennes so far this year.

Twelfth in Amstel Gold, 11th at Flèche – that only means one thing…he’ll be 10th at LBL. But I’m pretty sure he’ll be disappointed with 10th.

Other than a stage at the USA Pro Challenge last year, the 2013 Amstel Gold is the last race Kreuziger has won, so he may not be a tip for the LBL title, but a podium place is well within his capabilities.

If Cummings can get a lead up the final climb of the day there’s nothing stopping him from taking it all the way to the line in Ans. His breakaway at Flèche Wallonne will have given him the hard miles in his legs, now it’s time to use them to win a race.

Rui Costa

Rui Costa on stage three of the 2015 Tour of the Basque Country

Rui Costa has pretty much given up on challenging for Grand Tours, which leaves him with the Classics and the Tour de Suisse to challenge for.